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Hadashot
Vancouver Talmud Torah's Weekly Newsletter
Vol. VII, Issue 31
June 1, 2012 11 Sivan, 5772
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DON'T RISK LOSING YOUR PPP CHEQUE! Every family is obligated to complete 12 volunteer hours. Anything under and your cheque will be cashed at the end of June. To record your hours, click this link. If you have questions about your hours, contact Jacqui Sankoff.
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HEAD OF SCHOOL'S MESSAGE Easing the congestionDear VTT Community, When our forefathers and foremothers envisioned and built a Jewish day school located in the heart of Vancouver's Jewish community, it is evident--based on the design and square footage of the building--that a school of 500+ students was inconceivable at the time. Fast forward several decades and a school bursting at the seams is the situation we find ourselves in today.
Many people are hard at work to find ways to alleviate the congestion. The long-term goal is the fulfillment of the Campus Campaign--an effort to grow the school in scope, size and accoutrements to usher in true 21st century learning. In the short term, however, scores of professionals and volunteers are coming up with creative solutions to manage our numbers.
Beginning on Monday, June 4th, we will be opening up the main floor of the school in the morning to create more space for the students to wait until classrooms open at 8:15 a.m. We hope this will ease the congestion of everyone being crammed into the foyer until the bell rings. Certain doors will be closed to prevent students from roaming the school; please abide by the parameters of where students and parents can and cannot go. Your cooperation is much appeciated!
Shabbat Shalom,  Cathy Lowenstein, M.Ed. Head of School
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WEEKLY TORAH PORTION/PARASHAT HA'SHAVUAH by Rabbi Matthew Bellas
Shabbat Parashat Naso
Blessing Our Children
In this week's parasha, we find one of the first blessing texts in Judaism. We are most familiar with brakhot beginning with the official formula Barukh Atah Adonai... (Blessed are You..). However, these words do not appear in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) when blessings are being recited or passed between individuals. The blessing that appears in this Torah reading is called Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing. God and Moses instruct the Kohanim to bless the people with the following words:
With the destruction of the Temples and the end of almost all Kohanite function in Jewish ritual life, this brakha made its way into Jewish liturgy, most notably into the Amidah, the central prayer of the shaharit (morning), minha (afternoon), and ma'ariv (evening) services where the service leader recites the verses of the blessing to which the congregation responds, "So may it be Your will." On special occasions (and in some communities, every Shabbat), such as the three Pilgrimage Festivals (Pesah, Shavu'ot, and Sukkot), and the High Holy Days (Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur), and Simhat Torah, it is common for the kohanim of the congregation to go up to the bimah to fulfill their role as bless-ers of the children of Israel. The ceremony is elaborate and enriched by pomp and circumstance, making it a powerful experience for all involved. Read more online...
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Matthew Bellas
Vice Principal Judaic Studies/School Rabbi
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YOU'VE SEEN THE STUDENT VIDEO; NOW WATCH THE COMMUNITY ONE!
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A Message from our Community
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To see what a revitalized Talmud Torah can look like, click here To view the plans, student video, community video and other materials associated with the campaign, click here
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HAVE YOU TRIED SUSAN STILLER'S MARS BAR CAKE YET?
If not, you're missing out on pure decadence. Find that recipe and many more treasures in VTT's cookbook, "Together."
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Grade 7 students Justine Balin and Elle Poirier made this delectable dessert for Shabbat dinner last Friday. Just like the cookbook promises, it was easy and delicious!
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Order through PayPal or purchase directly from our office!
Have you successfully tried a recipe from Together? Don't forget to email photos of your creations to info@talmudtorah.com.
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VTT 2012 YEARBOOK COVER UNVEILED 
VTT student Oren Mathews created this bold and beautiful artwork from Ms. Leisen's Grade 4 art class. The image is an imaginative and colourful tribute to the famous Jewish artist Marc Chagall. Yearbooks on sale now, $20, through the front office. The annuals will be distributed in September. To see last year's fabulous oeuvre, stop by Jennifer's office.
For your convenience, you may also purchase through PayPal for $25.
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Dates to Remember
| Light candles at 8:52 p.m.
Shabbat ends at 10:15 p.m. |
Team Celia's ChildRunSunday, June 3, 9 a.m. Friends of Talmud Torah Gentlemen's DinnerSunday, June 3, 6 p.m. Grade 7 MVP Ceremony of GivingTuesday, June 5, 1:30 p.m. Grade 2 Torah CelebrationWednesday, June 6, 1:30 p.m. Sports Day- 11:30 a.m. dismissalFriday, June 8 Students are to wear team colours (green, red, yellow or blue--ask your children what team they're on)
Spring Band Concert
Thursday, June 14, 7 p.m.
Everyone welcome!
Kindergarten Graduation
Friday, June 15, 12:15 p.m.
Grade 7 Graduation
Wednesday, June 27, 7 p.m.
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 This week we thank parents Carol Konkin and Jhennia Solovyov for running our lunch time Games Room for students. It's a popular place to go, especially when the weather is so dreary! We also thank parent Astrid Visscher for cleaning, mending, sorting, organizing and selling our huge inventory of used uniforms. Stay tuned for details on the next sale. Proceeds have supported the school's performing arts programs. Finally, a huge Todah Rabah to Lisa Boroditsky for successfully leading our Strathcona fundraising efforts. The earthquake kits were an especially big hit! |
Community Announcements
Improve your Hebrew this summer with a mini Ulpan, taught by the very experienced language instructor, Rahel Halabe
Learn more here
JCC Camp Shalom! July 3-Aug 17
Children & Youth Ages 3-15
Still has spots available for some sessions.
@ Montgomery Park
1 Week camps - half & full day
Ages 3-13
1 week camps
Half Day - Morning & Afternoon
Ages 6-12At Camp Miriam on Gabriola Island, no child is turned away due to lack of funds. Learn more about this policy and the camp in general here. Summer Basketball Camps through RBL Vancouver--many being held at Talmud Torah
Click here for more infoFor Ages 4 years and up
July 30-August 24 2012
Weekly Sessions Monday to Friday
Conveniently located in the VTT gym! For more information. contact head coach Kamena Petkova at 604.274.7547 or Diana Zoe Coop at 604.929.9669
It's like Birthright for Women! Schara Tzedek and JWRP are offering 9 days in Israel www.jwrp.org
contact Gila Ross 604.365.3450
Registration for Camp Gan Israel summer program is now open. The camp program is for children ages 3-12. Camp starts on Tuesday, July 3 and will run until Friday, August 10.The adventure camp program for boys ages 9-12 will run until July 27. To register visit ganisraelbc.com/registration. For more information see our site ganisraelbc.com or call the office 604-266-1313.
Jewish Federations of Canada presents an Interfaith Medical Mission to Israel in Nov 2012
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SHONOT | ODDS 'N ENDZ
If you haven't heard of Hirsch Wolofsky, then you're missing out on an important part of Canadian Jewish-Yiddish history. Wolofsky also happens to be great grandparent to VTT parent Ruthie Shugarman (and her son Cooper). Read all about Wolofsky, a Polish-born Montrealer who never gave up on his dreams, here.
 Our two Games Room volunteers, Carol Konkin & Jhennia Solovyov, are hoping to run the program twice a week next year. Please contact either one of them if you can help out. They are also looking for donations of LEGO pieces (not sets). The blocks are very popular with students.
1-MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR MURDERED ISRAELI ATHLETES If you would like to see these athletes recognized on the 40th anniversary of their deaths, sign this petition.
HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED OF LATE? DON'T LOSE $300!
RECORD YOUR PPP HOURS TODAY! Each family must complete a minimum of 12 volunteer hours (anything less and your cheque will be cashed). The hours can be completed by parents, grandparents, nannies, etc. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available that can be performed BOTH AT SCHOOL OR AT HOME. If you're at a loss, contact Marnie Greenwald or Leana Gaerber, our PPP co-chairs.
Don't forget to log your hours here. |
GIVING TO VANCOUVER TALMUD TORAH
Did you know that giving to VTT is easier than ever?
Click this link to access our secure online giving page
or feel free to email Tirzah Abraham in our development office. Please consider a minimum donation of $18 for tribute cards so that more funds can go towards our students.
Your contribution can be allocated to the following funds:
Library
Gita Kron
Atid Endowment
Building
Capital
Operations
Cristall Tikkun Olam Chair
Strathcona
Alumni
Performing Arts
MVP Fund
VTT Family Fund
To read more details about these funds, download our "Generosity" flyer. Beautiful tribute cards, designed by Jasmine Sasky, are sent by the school development office to mark any number of occasions, milestones and/or life cycle events.
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Vancouver Talmud Torah is a traditional Jewish community day school dedicated to excellence in an engaging and respectful learning environment in which Jewish children can become proud, caring, responsible, and dedicated members of the Jewish people and Canadian society.
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GRANDPARENTS ARE VTT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOO!
Bubbes & Zaydes, Sabas & Savtas, Grandmas & Grandpas are vital members of the VTT community. We'd like to include them in relevant school communications, including invitations to our annual Hanukkah concert and other events of interest. Kindly forward email address to Jennifer Shecter-Balin, our Director of Communications.
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We are a community of faculty, staff, students, parents, grandparents, alumni, family and friends! Feel free to join us.
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